LOWER BUTTER PRICES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1930, Page 6

LOWER BUTTER PRICES

7 EXPLANATION DEMANDED, 'Several matters affecting the dairying industry'lncluding the rates of wages paid to dairy factory assistants Were •discussed at a meeting oi dairy men at Dunedin. Mi: John Christie asked the meeting to consider the cause ol the difference in the price paid in England for New Zealand Rutter compared with tilt; Danish product. At present there was a difference of 30s per ewt in the price oi butter from the two countries. Previously it used to be only 10s or 12s per ewt. It bad been said that the difference in price was the result of hardness in New Zealand. Mr Christie then moved as follows: •‘That this meeting communicate immediately with the Dairy Produce Board and ask for an explanation why the great difference in the price ot New Zealand and Danish butter has occurred;”

Mr If.. Waite, M.P., said advice had been received in Wellington that the cause of the trouble was heavy stocks of New Zealand butter in cold storage, these having been carried over lor a long time. New Zealand butter was stored and Danish butter was fresh. Although complaints of bad trade and depression were general, the consuming public in England was prepared to pay 3d per lb more for Danish butter than for New Zealand and Australian butter. The motion was carried.

In regard to wages, Mr Christie said a great deal of the present position in certain industries had been brought, about by themselves. High wages had been paid by certain employers and the Arbitration Court had taken them as a standard. The shearer’s award however

at-present was based on. the price of wool, and sheep were shorn at a lower rate than last year. He thought a remedy for the existing state of affairs would be to have a sliding scale of wages oil the prices of products. He moved as follows:—“That the Arbitration Act be amended in the direction of providing for compulsory, conciliation and optionnl arbitration.” The mot on was carried.

Mr Waite said the Arbitration Court was only one of the tilings they had to consider. All sorts of costs were increasing, interest, Government taxation and local body taxation. Parliament would not meet until June and they must act immed atelv. All over New Zealand industries were ceasing operations because they could not carry on. Sawmilling businesses in Otago and Southland were closing this month because they could not sell their .timber. The following motion by Mr Waite was carried i—“ That the Government he asked to call, at the earliest moment a national economic conference, representative of the primary producers, financial institutions and employees to decide on a method of reducingoverhead costs, so that the industries of the ountrv mav continue. ’’